Anyone who's been raised watching Disney movies is probably familiar with the outlandish myths out there about witches and witchcraft. Below are just a few of the myths surrounding witches. Which ones have you had people ask you?
Witches are crazy old hags who do gross things like pull their eyeballs out.
Source: Shakespear's play, MacBeth. In the play the three witches are blind and see the future through an eyeball they pass around.
Truth: Think I'll stick with reading Tarot cards thanks! The truth is if you take out your eye, witch or not, you'll be blind and in a lot of pain. And if a healer knows you were stupid enough to do that to yourself, they probably won't help you. In the play they also add all kinds of crawling, slithering things to their cauldron, "Double double toil in trouble.." The cauldron is a useful tool for boiling up infusions of herbs for healing teas and potions. However, becasue of the weight and expense of a wrought iron cauldron, most witches use a regular pot.
Warning: Use common sense and good judgement. Don't consume herbs or direct others to do so without insuring they are nonpoisonous and not irritants. Check every herb before use by its botanical name - some herbs have similar common names, so be careful!
Witches wear pointy black hats and are covered in warts.
Source: Not sure of the original source of the warts myth, but witches have worn pointed hats in the past as a tool for the cone of power.
Truth: Pointy black hats are a fashion faux paus, and you should see a doctor to have warts removed.
Warning: Playing with magick didn't work well for Mickey Mouse, so don't slap on a pointy hat and start summoning spirits!
"She turned me into a gnewt!...I got better." - Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail"
Source: Witches have long been accused of doing terrible things to their neighbors. Books such as Malleus Maleficarium (a witch hunting guide from 1485) have induced hysterics and witch hunts for centuries. The ideas and beliefs written in it are still perpetrated in modern times. In 2008 the popular tv show Supernatural had an episode entitled "Malleus Maleficarium" in which witches were whores who sold themselves to demons for their powers.
Truth: While anything is possible, why would a witch turn someone into a gnewt when a diamond would be more practical? The ability to transform objects into other objects is known as transmogrification. It's as rare as alchemists turning iron into gold and I've never known anyone who could do this.
Warning: A witch may not turn you into a gnewt, but it may not stop them from cursing you with a gnewt infestation! (Just kidding, use magick wisely)
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